Monolithic multiple solar cells

ABSTRACT

A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.

This nonprovisional application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/203,669, which was filed on Mar. 11, 2014, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/813,217, which was filed on Jul. 2, 2007, which is a National Stage application of PCT/EP2005/014022, and was filed on Dec. 23, 2005, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2005 000 767.8, which was filed in Germany on Jan. 4, 2005, and which are all herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a monolithic multiple solar cell made from elements of the 3rd and 5th main groups of the periodic table of elements with an integrated semiconductor mirror.

2. Description of the Background Art

A corresponding double solar cell (also called tandem cell) is known from the publication “Prog. Photovol: Res. Appl. 2001; 9:165-178, F. Dimroth et al. Metamorphic Ga.sub.yIn.sub.1-yP/Ga.sub.1-xIn.sub.xAs Tandem Solar Cells for Space and for Terrestrial Concentrator Applications at C>1000 Suns.” As the integrated semiconductor mirror a Bragg mirror is used. The Bragg mirror is thus epitaxially applied on a GaAs substrate, on which in turn the double solar cell GaInP/GaInAs, which has an n to p polarity, is epitaxially applied.

From Physica E. 2002, Vol. 14, p. 84-90, M. Yamaguchi: “Multi-junction Solar Cells and Novel Structures for Solar Cell Applications”, simple and multiple solar cells are known, wherein a Bragg reflector may be disposed on the rear side of the simple solar cells.

From the Journal of Electronic Materials, Vol. 21, No. 3, 1992, S. M. Vernon et al. “Growth and Characterization of Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-xAs Bragg reflectors by LP-MOCVD”, a GaAs solar cell with a Bragg reflector on a silicon substrate is known.

From the publication “Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 68 (2001), p. 105-122, M. Z. Shvarts et al. “Radiation Resistant AlGaAs/GaAs Concentrator Solar Cells with Internal Bragg Reflector”, a GaAs simple solar cell is known, under which a Bragg mirror is disposed. The solar cell used is a cell with a p to n polarity.

From WO-A-2004/017425, a multiple solar cell is known, in which back reflectors, which carry out the function of the electric mirrors in relation to the minority carriers, run between the individual solar cells.

Lattice-matched triple solar cells of Ga.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P/Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As/Ge are market leaders among the space solar cells. The best cells reach 30-31% efficiency under the space solar spectrum AMO. In production, so far a maximum average efficiency of at least 28.3% was achieved. A decisive factor is the radiation hardness of the cells. According to a typical irradiation with 1.times.10.sup.15 cm.sup.-2 1 MeV electrons, the efficiency of these cells is degraded to 24.3%. This corresponds to a residual factor of 86%.

Quintuple to sextuple solar cells are described in “Solar Cell Manufacturers Come Back Down to Earth” by M. Hatcher, Compoundseminconductor.net magazine, November 2003.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to further develop a monolithic multiple solar cell of the kind described above in order to improve the radiation stability in such a way that the end-of-life (EOL) efficiency is increased. At the same time, current generation of the individual partial cells should not be substantially affected. The expenditure during production of the solar cell should not be noticeably influenced.

The object is attained according to the invention in that the multiple solar cell comprises at least three partial cells, the semiconductor mirror is disposed between two partial cells and has several layers with refractive indices that at least differ from each other and the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of the absorption range of the partial cell or partial cells disposed above the semiconductor mirror and a high transmission degree for radiation in the spectral absorption range of the partial cell or partial cells disposed underneath the semiconductor mirror.

As the reflection degree R is identified herein the wavelength-dependent reflection averaged across a specific spectral range. Ideally, this spectral range comprises the entire spectral absorption range of the partial cell located over the semiconductor mirror. In the application, frequently a smaller spectral range is sufficient, in particular a reflection band close to the band gap energy of the partial cell located above it with a half-width value HWB of nm 40 mm HWB≦300 nm.

A high degree of reflection R means therein that the average reflection over the reflection band amounts to R≧0.3, preferably R≧0.7, and especially 0.7≦R≦1.

The wavelength-dependent transmission is identified herein as a degree of the transmission T averaged across the spectral absorption range of the partial cell or partial cells located under the semiconductor mirror. A high degree of transmission T means therein that T≧0.5, preferably T≧0.85, and especially 0.9≦T≦1.

An optical mirror in the form of a monolithically integrated semiconductor mirror for multiple solar cells consisting of or comprising a compound semiconductor of groups III and V of the periodic table is proposed according to the invention, wherein the multiple solar cell comprises three or more partial cells. The semiconductor mirror is installed under the nth solar cell of the multiple solar cell by means of a suitable epitaxy process. Suitable epitaxy processes are, for example, MOVPE (metal organic vapor phase epitaxy) or MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) or VPE (vapor phase epitaxy), just to name a few.

The semiconductor is made of a plurality of thin semiconductor layers with different refraction indices. The number, order, and thickness of the layers are selected in such a way that part of the solar spectrum is reflected back into the nth partial cell of the m partial solar cells, which comprises multiple solar cells. Therein, m>n as well as m=3. The thickness of the nth partial cell is cut in half by using a mirror such as this, without drastically reducing the absorption in the partial cell. At the same time, the layers are selected in such a way that the semiconductor mirror has high transmission in another part of the solar spectrum. In this way, it is ensured that the current generation in the (n+1)th partial cell, which is to say the cell that runs underneath the semiconductor mirror, as well as the other partial cells that are located underneath the semiconductor mirror, is not reduced beyond a critical degree.

The integration of a corresponding semiconductor mirror is especially advantageous if one of the partial cells of the multiple solar cell is made of a material with a low diffusion length or when the diffusion length in one of the partial cells substantially deteriorates during the application. The thickness of the nth partial cell can be cut in half by using the semiconductor mirror without strongly reducing the absorption in this partial cell. The combination of the introduction of a semiconductor mirror and a simultaneous reduction of the cell thickness has a positive effect on current generation. A more advantageous generation profile over the depth of the active layers of the partial cell is achieved. It is particularly significant that the average distance of the generated minority carriers to the depletion layer is strongly reduced due to the lesser cell thickness. This leads to an increased probability that the minority carriers will encounter the depletion layer during diffusion and will thus contribute to the current generation. The recombination is reduced in this way.

An important application example is the Ga.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P/Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As/Ge triple solar cell, which has become one of the most widely used cell in satellites in recent years. In space, the solar cells are exposed to a spectrum of highly energetic particles, for example, electrons and protons with energies in the MeV range. This radiation can lead to a degradation of the solar cell, especially to increased recombination, and therewith to a shorter diffusion length in the semiconductor material. While the GaInP upper cell and the Ge lower cell are relatively insensitive to spatial radiation, the Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As central cell exhibits strong degradation. In typical radiation doses, such as approximately 1.times.10.sup.15 cm.sup.-2 1 MeV electrons, the diffusion length in Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As decreases so strongly that only a part of the generated minority carriers reaches the depletion layer. A strong degradation of the generated current or the quantum efficiency of the central cell is the consequence. The degradation of the central cell thus determines the degradation of the triple solar cell. This degradation can be clearly reduced by inserting the semiconductor mirror between the central and lower cells and by simultaneously cutting in half the thickness of the central cell according to the invention. The layers of the semiconductor mirror are selected in this case in such a way that high reflection within the spectral range of higher energies than those of the band gap of Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As of approx. 1.4 eV is achieved. At the same time, sufficient transmission of lower energies must be achieved, so that sufficient current is generated in the Ge lower cell. In the case of the Ga.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P/Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As/Ge triple solar cell, the Ge lower cell generates an excess of current (approx. 30 mA/cm.sup.2 in comparison with the upper partial cells with approx. 17 mA/cm.sup.2), whereby the requirements of transparency of the semiconductor mirror for lower energies are not quite so high.

While in the case of the Ga.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P/Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As/Ge triple solar cell all the partial cells are bred with the same lattice constant, which is lattice-matched to the substrate, in the current development presently triple solar cells are studied, comprising lattice-mismatched layers.

Typical material combinations are GaInP/GaInAs/Ge or also AlGaInP/GaInAs/Ge, wherein the indium content in one or in both of the upper partial cells is higher than in the previously mentioned triple solar cell. The application of the semiconductor mirror according to the invention is similar for these cell concepts. The requirements of transparency of the semiconductor mirror for lower energies is somewhat higher herein than that of the energy band gap of the utilized GaInAs, since the excess of generation in the Ge lower cell is less.

The semiconductor mirror can also be similarly used for lattice-matched and lattice-mismatched quintuple solar cells, which are likewise currently under development for spatial applications. AlGaInP/GaInP/AlGaInAs/Ge is, for example, a typical material combination for such a cell.

While in the previously discussed cell concepts the problem of the low diffusion length was caused by the application in space and the radiation existing therein, there are also concepts for multiple solar cells that comprise materials with inherently lower diffusion length. Ga.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P/Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As/Ge triple solar cells can be expanded by adding a further partial cell of a material with an energy band gap of approx. 1 eV into Ga.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P/Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As/1 eV material/Ge quadruple solar cells. The GaInNAs material can be used, for example, to implement an energy band gap of 1 eV with simultaneous lattice matching to the Ge substrate. However, this material has exhibited until now very low diffusion lengths, for which reason it has not been possible to achieve better results with quadruple solar cells than with triple solar cells.

The integration of a semiconductor mirror according to the invention under the GaInNAs partial cell with a simultaneous adaptation of the cell thickness can, in this case, likewise be successfully applied. The layers of the semiconductor mirror are selected therein in such a way that a high reflection of energies that are greater than 1 eV and simultaneously a high transmission of energies that are lower than 1 eV are achieved. The requirements of transparency of the semiconductor mirror for lower energies are herein very high, since the Ge lower cell does not have an excess of generation. A quadruple solar cell such as this is not only suitable for use in space, but also for applications in terrestrial concentrator systems.

Sextuple solar cells for spatial applications are also known. These are obtained, for example, from the expansion of an AlGaInP/GaInP/AlGaInAs/GaInAs/Ge quintuple solar cell with a further partial cell of a material with an energy band gap of approx. 1.0-1.1 eV. A possible material combination is thus AlGaInP/GaInP/AlGaInAs/GaInAs/GaInNAs/Ge. The integration of one or even two semiconductor mirrors is carried out according to the teaching of the invention.

Examples of multiple solar cells can also be found in the publication “Proceedings of the 19.sup.th European Photovoltaic Energy Conference”, 7-11 Jun. 2004, Paris, p. 3581-3586, M. Muesel et al: “European Roadmap for the Development of III-V Multi-Junction Space Solar Cells.”

If, as is customary for the epitaxy of a multiple solar cell structure, a Ge substrate is used, which is activated during the epitaxy and forms the Ge lower cell, the teaching of the invention can also be applied to solar cells in which the epitaxy is carried out on a silicon or Si/Ge substrate.

Independently from this, a further development of the invention provides that the layer of the semiconductor mirror that precedes the subsequent partial cell has a lattice structure, which is adapted to that of the partial cell.

The layers of the semiconductor mirror are made of a compound semiconductor of the 3rd and 5th main groups of the periodic table or comprise these. The compound semiconductors can be doped herein with Si, Te, Zn, C, Mg and/or Se.

The layers can be made of a compound semiconductor material, such as AlGaInAs material and/or AlGaInP material or can comprise these, wherein AlGaInAs includes GaAs, InAs, AlAs, GaInAs, AlGaAs, AlInAs and/or AlGaInP includes GaP, InP, AlP, GaInP or AlInP.

The respective layer of the semiconductor mirror should have a thickness d with 2 nm≦d≦300 nm, especially 10 nm≦d≦150 nm.

The semiconductor mirror comprises n layers, wherein 10≦n≦50, especially 15≦n≦35. The total thickness D of the semiconductor mirror should amount to 500 nm≦D≦4000 nm, especially 750 nm≦D≦2500 nm.

The invention teaches very generally that, with n layers of the semiconductor mirror, at least two layers have different refraction indices and/or at least two layers have different material compositions and/or at least two layers have different thicknesses. Three or more layers can, of course, also have different material compositions or different indices of refraction or different thicknesses.

Due to the plurality of different material layers, especially advantageous properties are achieved with reference to the reflection and transmission, as well as the possibility of passivation of the boundary layer to the partial cell located above it.

The invention provides especially that the semiconductor mirror is integrated between the central and lower cells of a GaInP/GaInAs/Ge triple solar cell, wherein preferably the GaInAs central cell has a thickness of d.sub.m with 500 ≦d.sub.m≦2500 nm, and especially 800 nm≦d.sub.m≦2000 nm.

The invention provides furthermore that one or more semiconductor mirrors are integrated in a GaInP/GaInAs/GaInNAs/Ge quadruple solar cell, wherein a semiconductor mirror is disposed especially between the GaInNAs and the Ge partial cells.

An integration of the semiconductor mirror is also possible in a quintuple solar cell, which is made, for example, of the partial cells AlGaInP/GaInP/AlGaInAs/GaInAs/Ge, wherein the semiconductor mirror should be disposed between the GaInAs and the Ge partial cells.

In the event that a sextuple solar cell is used, in which one or more semiconductor mirrors are integrated, the solar cell should comprise the partial cells AlGaInP/GaInP/AlGaInAs/GaInAs/GaInNAs/Ge.

Particularly good EOL efficiency can be produced when the semiconductor mirror has a high half-width value. An optimal half-width value (HWB) would be the one that includes the entire absorption range of the partial cell located above it. In this way, however, limitations of the degree of reflection would have to be tolerated or a high material consumption would be required. In order to achieve optimization, the half-width value should be between 50 nm and 300 nm, especially between 80 nm and 150 nm.

The layers of the semiconductor mirror should also be designed in such a way that the degree of reflection R amounts to R≧0.3, especially R≧0.7, and preferably to 0.7≦R≦1 and the degree of transmission T amounts to T≧0.5, especially T≧0.85, and preferably 0.9≦T≦1.

A special case of the semiconductor mirror according to the invention is the Bragg reflector. The latter consists usually of a periodic overlay lattice made of 2 materials with different indices of diffraction. The thickness of the respective layers of material is constant. In this way, reflections up to almost 100% can be achieved, depending on the number of overlay lattice periods. The Bragg mirrors are used, for example, in surface emitting lasers.

The semiconductor mirror according to the invention, which has the function of an optical mirror, represents very generally an extremely good reflector with reference to the partial cells disposed above it and a long pass filter with reference to the partial cell disposed underneath the semiconductor mirror.

The teaching of the invention can be advantageously used especially if one of the partial cells is a multiple solar cell made from a material with a low diffusion length or if the diffusion length considerably deteriorates during use in one of the partial cells. The thickness of the nth partial cell can be cut in half by using the semiconductor mirror without substantially reducing the absorption in the partial cell. The combination of the integration of a semiconductor mirror and the simultaneous reduction of the cell thickness has a positive effect on current generation. On the one hand, a more favorable regeneration profile is achieved over the depth of the active layers of the partial cell and, on the other hand, the lesser cell thickness causes a strong reduction of the average distance of the generated minority carriers to the depletion layer. This leads to an increased probability that the minority carriers will encounter the depletion layer during the diffusion and will thus contribute to current generation. The recombination is consequently reduced. As a consequence of this, an increase of the current generated in the partial cell is achieved, which is limited by a low diffusion length based on the teaching of the invention. Especially the radiation stability of the Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As central cell of a Ga.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P/Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As/Ge triple solar cell can be clearly improved.

The overall thickness of the multiple solar cell can be further reduced by means of the integration of a semiconductor mirror. Corresponding improvements of the radiation stability result in the case of the Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As or lattice-mismatched GaInAs partial cells in multiple solar cells with three or more partial cells. Through the integration of a semiconductor mirror, the teaching of the invention can provide a decisive contribution to the successful application of new materials with low diffusion lengths, such as GaInNAs as partial cell in a multiple solar cell.

The semiconductor mirror is characterized by suitable materials, wherein a lattice match with the partial cells disposed on the semiconductor mirror is carried out. At least two materials with a high difference in the indices of refraction are used in order to achieve high reflection. Materials with an equally great or greater band gap than that of the partial cell located above it are used in order to prevent the occurrence of an absorption for smaller energies. The thickness of the partial cell applied on the semiconductor mirror can be reduced, especially cut in half, by means of the integration of the semiconductor mirror.

In order to configure the semiconductor mirror, conventional epitaxy processes are used, which allow the deposition of numerous layers of different materials. As an example should be mentioned MOVPE, MBE, VPE, and the like. The semiconductor mirror is also deposited during the epitaxy of the solar cell structure.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a multiple solar cell with integrated semiconductor mirror,

FIG. 2 shows a reflection of an ideal semiconductor mirror, and

FIG. 3 shows a simulated reflection of a semiconductor mirror.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The schematic configuration of a multiple solar cell 10 with a semiconductor mirror integrated according to the invention can be seen in FIG. 1. The solar cell 10 comprises m partial cells 12, 14, 16, 18, which have been epitaxially applied on a substrate 20. Between the (n)th cell 16 with m>n and the (n+1)th cell 18, a semiconductor mirror 22 is integrated, which has also been deposited during the epitaxy of the solar cell structure. Suitable epitaxy processes to be considered are those that are suitable for the deposition of numerous layers of different materials. MOVPE, MBE (molecular beam epitaxy), or VPE (vapor phase epitaxy) can be mentioned as examples, without causing as a consequence a limitation of the teaching of the invention.

The multiple solar cell 10 is especially a triple solar cell, wherein the upper cell is made of Ga.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, the central cell is made of Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As, and the lower cell is made of Ge. The semiconductor mirror 22, which comprises several layers, is integrated in particular between the lower cell made of Ge and the central cell made of Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As. The layered structure is such that at least two layers of different materials, different thicknesses, and different indices of refraction are provided.

Through the selection of the materials, layer thicknesses, and indices of refraction, in the ideal case a reflection behavior as that shown in FIG. 2 is achieved. Maximum reflection is thus obtained for energies greater than the band gap energy of the nth partial cell, that is, maximum reflection is achieved in the exemplary embodiment of the triple cell with a Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As central cell having a band gap energy of >1.4 eV or 880 nm. For energies that are lower than the band gap energy of the nth cell, the reflection is minimal or the transmission is maximal. Transmission losses through absorption in the semiconductor mirror can be prevented or kept negligibly small by selecting suitable materials, for example, GaAs and AlGaAs.

The uppermost layer of the semiconductor mirror 22 can be made of GaInP and at the same time be the rear side field for the Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As central cell located above. GaInP is used as material, since it has very good properties as rear side passivation. The remaining layers of the semiconductor mirror 22 in the exemplary embodiment are made of three different materials: Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As, Al.sub.0.2Ga.sub.0.8As, and Al.sub.0.8Ga.sub.0.2As. There is an essential difference with respect to the Bragg reflector, which is made of only two different materials. Furthermore, various layer thicknesses are also in the example, while in the classic Bragg reflector all the layers of one material have the same thickness.

A further essential characteristic of the layer sequence of the semiconductor mirror 22 is that it reaches, on the one hand, a high reflection for energies above the band edge of the partial cell located above it, but has, on the other hand, also a low reflection or high transmission for lower energies. The reflection of the semiconductor mirror on the boundary surface to the Ga.sub.0.99In.sub.0.01As partial cell disposed above is shown in FIG. 3 to illustrate this. A high reflection is achieved for wavelengths between 800 nm and 900 nm. For wavelengths greater than 900 nm, however, the reflection is low. This is an important property of the semiconductor mirror, which ensures that the current generation in the Ge lower cell is not substantially reduced by the semiconductor mirror 22.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A solar cell comprising: a first cell formed of a plurality of first layers, at least two of the first layers have a different doping from one another; a second cell formed of a plurality of second layers, at least two of the second layers have a different doping from one another; and a Bragg reflector formed of a plurality of third layers and arranged between the first cell and the second cell, the third layers partially reflecting incident light back to the first cell and to allow a portion of the incident light to pass to the second cell.
 2. The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell is a monolithic solar cell.
 3. The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of third layers contain at least 10 layers.
 4. the solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of third layers have at least two layers that have a different thickness or a different refraction index or are made of different materials.
 5. The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the Bragg reflector is directly adjacent to the first cell.
 6. The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the Bragg reflector is directly adjacent to the second cell.
 7. The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the Bragg reflector has materials with a band gap energy that is equal with or greater than the second cell. 